Coast FL60R Headlamp review

As the days start to get shorter, a headlamp becomes a necessary accessory for running. I have been using a Black Diamond Spot for the last few years. While it did the job, when Coast provided NWDC with their new Flex Charge Dual Power wide beam headlamp, the 450 lumen FL60R, I was super excited to try it out. Jameson has one of their other headlamps, and it was consistently brighter and more comfortable than my Black Diamond on the few occasions where I used it. So, without further ado, here is my take on the Coast FL60R headlamp.

Fit

I find this headlamp very comfortable. The band is soft, and the back of the lamp has a wide base that distributes the pressure for it really well. Most importantly, the headlamp does not bounce when you are running. This includes when wearing a hat. The tightness is adjusted fairly quickly via a slide on the band.

Function

This headlamp has three brightness settings. When you first press the power button on the top of the lamp you start with the brightest setting. Press again for medium, and again for the lowest setting. Realistically running on a trail is only feasible using the bright or medium setting. The low setting would be most useful at base camp or if you are in a situation where battery life becomes an issue. That wide beam is fantastic. It gives you great visibility of the trail as well as on either side of the trail. The power button can be a little difficult to find initially, particularly with gloves on. As long as you remember that the button has a rubberized feel versus the hard plastic around, you will be good to go. This model lacks a red light, but adding one would increase the weight slightly so it is a trade-off. When it comes to charging it, with the rechargeable battery you are able to charge it while in the headlamp, although not while the headlamp is on, or outside the headlamp using micro USB. This would allow you to throw AAA batteries in really easily and recharge the LI-Ion battery while you run using a separate battery pack. Yes, you can use regular AAA batteries in this, which is a great feature. That does bring up one little feature request: allow the headlamp to charge while in use…that would be amazing.

Form

This headlamp is light. At 2.8 oz it is one of the lightest rechargeable headlamps on the market today. As I mentioned, the band is super comfortable and includes reflective material throughout which is a standard feature across much of the Coast headlamp lineup. Another thing that I really appreciate is the battery cover opens all the way providing very easy access to removing the battery. The construction of the headlamp case is solid, has an IPX4 weatherproof rating, and will adjust to different angles depending on your need.

Conclusion

This headlamp illuminates my entire field of vision. It is light, doesn’t bounce when I run, and is super comfortable. This is a solid headlamp to bring with you as the days get shorter. Coast is a Portland, OR; based company that has been around since 1919, and has been making LED headlamps since 2003. Each of their products has a lifetime warranty, which is another reason to take a serious look at their headlamps as no other major player in the headlamp field has this kind of warranty. You can find the FL60R here on Coast’s website.